Chelar Tool & Die

What Chelar Tool & Die does

Chelar Tool & Die Inc. is a privately held contract manufacturer based in Belleville, Illinois, founded in 1964 and operating continuously for over 60 years. The company delivers integrated precision metalworking services across five core offerings: tool and die design and fabrication (including progressive, robot, and hand transfer tooling), precision machining, short- and long-run production stamping, wire EDM, and Blanchard grinding. It serves OEMs and contract manufacturers in aerospace, appliances, HVAC, and electrical industries that require tight-tolerance components, custom tooling, and flexible run lengths. Capabilities include presses up to 700 tons with 72" x 168" beds, machining capacity for parts up to 40,000 lbs and 300 inches long on a machine with 104" x 204" travels, four MAKINO submersible wire EDM machines with 0.0001-inch accuracy, and Blanchard grinders with up to 78-inch swing capacity. The firm is ISO 9001:2015 certified (achieved July 2024) and operates a 60-person tool shop supported by a 13-person engineering staff (approximately 73 employees total).

The business runs from a single facility at 11 North Florida Avenue, Belleville, with no disclosed secondary locations and service reach confined to the U.S. Midwest. Revenue is generated on a project-quote basis for custom tooling, prototype work, and production runs; no subscription, license, or programmatic pricing model is disclosed, and no public price list exists. Go-to-market is direct B2B sales with pickup and delivery services, supported by an in-house workforce development pipeline that includes an NTMA national apprenticeship competition winner. No marketing channels, named customer logos, partnerships, or distribution partners are publicly identified.

The company shows limited external signals of strategic activity: no funding rounds, no acquisitions, no executive hires disclosed, and no public communications cadence. The principal observable moves are the ISO 9001 certification in mid-2024 and a refreshed equipment list published in 2025, accompanied by active hiring for CNC machinists, tool makers, and production operators. Ownership is private with no disclosed institutional investors, parent entity, or succession signals, leaving capital structure and exit posture as open diligence questions.

Name

Chelar Tool & Die

Legal name

Chelar Tool & Die Inc.

Website

https://chelar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chelar Tool & Die Inc. is a Belleville, Illinois-based precision contract manufacturer founded in 1964, offering tool and die design, precision machining, production stamping, wire EDM, and Blanchard grinding services to aerospace, appliances, HVAC, and electrical OEMs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Tool and Die Manufacturing

NAICS

Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514), Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351), Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515)

SIC

Metal Forgings & Stampings (3460), Sheet Metal Work (3444), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE), Sheet Metal Machinery (Laser/Plasma/Waterjet Cutting, Punching) (IMAHADAD)

Keywords

• Precision machining services
• Tool and die manufacturing
• Production stamping services
• Wire EDM machining
• Blanchard grinding services

Headquarters

HQ city

Belleville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tool and Die Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of progressive, robot, and hand transfer tooling for post steel components, pre-painted and stainless steel parts. Custom tooling solutions for industrial manufacturing.
2. Production Stamping: Short and long run production stamping services. Supported by 60-person tool shop and 13-person engineering staff to ensure on-time delivery and tool maintenance.
3. Precision Machining Services: Precision machining for aerospace, appliances, HVAC, electrical industries. State of the art equipment producing high quality machined parts to customer specifications.
4. Blanchard Grinding Services: Industry-leading Blanchard grinding with pickup and delivery services for finished products.
5. Wire EDM Services: Wire EDM processing using four MAKINO submersible wire machines with accuracy to 0.0001 of an inch.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Chelar Tool & Die designs and manufactures custom tooling (progressive, robot, and hand transfer) and delivers short- and long-run production stamping, precision machining, Wire EDM, and Blanchard grinding services to industrial customers. Its capabilities span parts up to 40,000 lbs and 300 inches long, presses up to 700 tons, and Wire EDM accuracy to 0.0001 of an inch, with a 60-person tool shop and 13-person engineering staff supporting on-time delivery.

Product overview

Chelar Tool & Die Inc. is a manufacturing company offering a portfolio of precision metalworking services built around five core offerings: Tool and Die (progressive, robot, and hand transfer tooling), Precision Machining, Production Stamping, Wire EDM, and Blanchard Grinding. The company operates a 60-person tool shop and 13-person engineering staff to support production capabilities including presses up to 700 tons and machines handling parts up to 40,000 lbs and 300 inches long. These services are delivered as integrated manufacturing solutions rather than standalone products, with in-house tooling, machining, and finishing capabilities designed to serve industries including aerospace, appliances, HVAC, and electrical.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tool and Die Design and manufacturing of high-quality progressive, robot, and hand transfer tooling and turnkey processes requiring custom-built machines. Produces tooling for post steel components, pre-painted and stainless steel parts, intended for industrial manufacturers across aerospace, appliances, HVAC, and electrical sectors.
• Precision Machining State-of-the-art precision machining services for aerospace, appliances, HVAC, electrical, and other industries. Capable of machining large complex parts up to 40,000 lbs and 300 inches long, with the largest machine offering travels of 104 x 204 inches, intended for industrial customers with tight-tolerance, large-format part requirements.
• Production Stamping Short- and long-run production stamping services with press capacity up to 700 tons and maximum bed size of 72 x 168 inches. Supported by a 60-person tool shop and 13-person engineering staff to ensure on-time delivery and tool maintenance, intended for industrial manufacturers requiring flexible run lengths under tight deadlines.
• Wire EDM Wire EDM processing using four MAKINO submersible wire machines, the largest with travel specs of 25.6 x 15.7 x 16.5 inches and all machines delivering accuracy to 0.0001 of an inch. Provided to industrial customers requiring ultra-precise cuts and superior surface finish.
• Blanchard Grinding Industry-leading Blanchard grinding process supported by a variety of surface grinders and Blanchard grinders capable of swinging 78 inches to maintain tight tolerances on large pieces. Offered with pickup and delivery services, intended for industrial customers needing precision surface finishing on oversized components.

Quantifiable outcome

• Accuracy to 0.0001 of an inch with Wire EDM
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Rocklin Manufacturing: Manufacturer of specialized tooling and equipment for industrial applications including surface treatment and die-related equipment. Comparable to Chelar as a niche tooling manufacturer with specialized industrial IP.
• Industrial Tooling & Manufacturing: Specialized industrial tooling and precision machining shop serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Comparable to Chelar's precision machining and engineered tooling offering.

Broad incumbents

• Macrodyne Technologies: Designer and builder of custom hydraulic presses and large-format metalworking equipment. Comparable to Chelar's fabrication of custom-built machines and turnkey tooling for press applications.
• Carr Lane Manufacturing: Broad-line manufacturer of workholding, jig, and fixture components for metalworking. Comparable to Chelar's jigs, fixtures, and tooling product family used to support stamping and machining operations.
• Dayton Progress: Global manufacturer of metal stamping die components (punches, die buttons, retainers). Comparable as a tooling supplier feeding the same stamping and die-making workflow Chelar operates in.
• Mate Precision Tooling: Manufacturer of press brake tooling, punches, die sets, and workholding for sheet metal fabrication. Adjacent to Chelar's progressive die and tool-making business, serving many of the same industrial OEMs.
• Nidec Minster Corporation: Established manufacturer of metal stamping presses up to and beyond 700 tons, including the presses Chelar uses and similar-capacity equipment. Comparable as a broader incumbent in stamping machinery that Chelar's customers also source.

Direct peers

• Precision Tool & Die: Independent tool and die shop offering progressive dies, stamping, and CNC machining. Directly comparable to Chelar in capability mix and high-mix custom service model.
• Diecraft Companies: Multi-location US tool and die / stamping / precision machining job shop serving industrial customers. Directly comparable to Chelar in service mix (design, tooling, stamping, machining) and go-to-market.
• AAA Industries: Custom tool and die, stamping, and precision machining job shop serving industrial customers. Closely comparable to Chelar in service portfolio, scale, and customer-type mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chelar Tool & Die